Innehållsförteckning för August 2024 från NZ4WD

Ineos Automotive gave a glimpse of potential future Grenadier variants at Goodwood Festival of Speed, with a series of prototypes underlining the versatility of the robust body-on-frame 4WD. A portalaxled Grenadier Quartermaster and station wagon were shown alongside a short-bed Quartermaster pickup, a V8-powered station wagon, an eight-seater Safari conversion and the first FIA approved rally modified Grenadier. German vehicle modifiers LeTech have built a raised Grenadier fitted with portal axles and offset wheel hubs that increase ground clearance by 250mm to 514mm and wading depth from 800mm to 1050mm. Larger off-road tyres complete the modifications. The short-bed Quartermaster pickup, nicknamed the ‘Shortermaster’, was created by INEOS engineers at the Hambach production plant in France. Based on a standard Grenadier Station Wagon, the wheelbase of the double-cab pickup measures 2,922mm,…

NEWS Torsus, builder of the world's toughest, most-capable heavy-duty off-road buses, has unveiled the next generation of their flagship bus, Praetorian. The company says more than 50 all-new technical updates and options for 2024 maintain the Praetorian's classleading ability to travel where others dare not tread, to take on the toughest jobs and safely transport up to 35 occupants comfortably across any terrain, in any conditions, anywhere in the world. Torsus developed the Praetorian 4x4 off-road bus to match to “operate at the tip of the spear, and to get the mission done, no matter how impossible. And now, in third generation guise, the Prraetorian lifts the bar even higher, once again setting standards that no would-be competitor can ever hope to match.” The 2024 version features fully upgraded suspension,…

There aren't many of these trucks rolling down the byways of New Zealand, nor even in this Nissan's dry, warm home state of Nevada. Keen observers will see the similarity to Toyota's mighty (and much more numerous) Land Cruiser. The Patrol KL60 was around at the same time and was Nissan's rival to the 40 Series. This 1969 one was originally purchased out of Washington state from a hydraulic engineer who had painstakingly maintained the motor and drivetrain. It has travelled just under 160,000 km (100,000 miles). The stock engine received a new carburettor – a Gronk Performance-tuned MotorCraft 2150 with electric/automatic choke. Extensive resto work went into the panel and paint. It's been built with off-roading in mind, with stronger front end, diff locks, winch, a gentle body lift…

EVENT Fieldays is many things to many people. How many people? More than attended the V8 Supercars at Taupo this year. More than attended the Big Boys Toys show back when it was a ‘thing’. More than any of the ‘satellite’; Fieldays events, and more than any A&P show. Now in its 57th year, Fieldays is the Southern Hemisphere's largest agricultural event and the ultimate launch platform for cutting edge technology and innovation. Organisers work flat out for seven weeks to set up the event, and more than 1,000 companies went all-out to build their displays. The biggest attraction for NZ4WD was the automotive presence. Since the New Zealand Car Show expired last century and Big Boys Toys declined and fizzled out in 2021, the nearest thing we've had to…

MY 4WD It's not every day a European SUV rumbles through New Zealand's back blocks and bush tracks, nor is it every day NZ4WD gets to profile one of Stuttgart's finest. But Stefan Badenhorst's Porsche Cayenne is something special, and he's built himself an adventure wagon that's hard to beat. We'll let Stefan pick up the story: My vehicle is a 2006 Porsche Cayenne 955 S. The car when new was optioned with Porsche's “Advanced off road technology pack.” This option was only ever built into 1,928 Cayennes and was part of Porsche homologation program to enter the Cayenne into the gruelling 7000km Trans-Siberia rally. This rally was won by Kiwi racing legend Rod Millen driving for team North America Porsche alongside Richard Kelsey. All Cayennes between 2003-2010 had a…

Terrain Tamer has released a new suspension kit to suit the Toyota Land Cruiser 300 Series. Consisting of all required components, including front and rear expanded body shock absorbers, as well as Australian made coil springs, the kit is the latest in the range from Terrain Tamer, whose catalogue of more than 100 suspension kits covers an extensive number of 4WD models from Toyota, Nissan, Ford, Isuzu, Mazda, Mitsubishi, Land Rover and more. First released in July 2021, the Landcruiser 300, or FJA300, is the latest big SUV in Toyota's 4WD range. As well as suspension components, Terrain Tamer has many other parts covering brake, cooling, differential, steering, filter, and bearing kit categories for the model. Terrain Tamer's suspension kits offer a complete upgrade or replacement solution made up of…

After four days of travel, our 4WD club “Coast to Coast” run is approaching its final destination. Having already reached Cape Egmont and the Centre of the Island, we are now just out of Rotorua, having just enjoyed a very relaxing afternoon and evening at Okere Falls on Lake Rotoiti. After a leisurely start, our day began with a visit to Okere Falls area before using the knowledge gained on our recce the previous year to avoid the minor roads around the northern side of lakes Rotoiti and Rotoehu in favour of taking SH30 for better views of the lakes. We then turned off between Lakes Rotoehu and Rotoma for a more interesting backroad run around Lake Rotoma. Unfortunately, we barely got off the main highway before discovering that contractors…

Winter is here. Cold. Wet. Windy. Most definitely all the above. I hope you are all having fun. A great time to go somewhere new. In winter. Feel the storm vibe. Park on a hill, see a rolling storm front coming in to close off the valley below, rolling along it like dark grey water foaming down a creek in slow motion. Catch the energy of lightning and thunder. Safe (hopefully) in your weatherproof 4WD. Then come carefully down from the peak. Step outside, feel the cold, lean into the wind, let the rain run down your face and the gusts mess up your hairdo. Where do you go in midsummer? Try it in winter when the forecast is dire. A remote windswept beach in a winter storm can be…

The devout fan club focussed on Toyota's Land Cruiser Prado can rejoice: the new Prado is (almost) here. For many of the rural and urban visitors who thronged to Fieldays, this was arguably the standout reveal of the automotive goodies on display. The pre-production overseas model on display at the Toyota site was close to the specification of the Adventure model to be sold here at $103,900. The new Prado is emphatically an offroad-capable SUV designed to do everything Kiwi owners would hope and expect. Prado will be available in four grades: GXL, VX, VX Limited, and Adventure. The VX Limited and Adventure are ‘halo’ models with Adventure the most off-road focussed of the four. The VX Limited is the more premium option. All models adopt the 48V mild-hybrid 2.8-litre…

NEWS Mercedes G-wagen, Land Rover Defender, Jeep Wrangler, Ineos Grenadier. There's something about the styling of boxy 4WDs that cries out ‘tough’ and ‘capable’. Whether creating the classics for backwoods exploration or the retromodern examples for mall-runs, automakers know that boxy SUVs have a certain appeal to them. Chinese automaker BAW (Beijing Auto Works) definitely seems to have taken this notion on board with this new but old school SUV. BAW was originally part of BAIC but became an independent brand on its own in 2020. The 4WD specialist recently revealed the latest 212. Catchy name that. BAW has taken inspiration from several brands in designing the 212. The front fascia features distinct round headlights with LED illumination and evoke the classic Toyota Land Cruiser 40 Series. In the side…

Kei trucks are a Japanese phenomenon that is sweeping the Western world. Rural America is going crazy over the tiny Japanese trucks, taking advantage of a transport rule that allows importation of vehicles over 20 years old. They are buying trucks off Japanese websites for $USD2,000, shipping them to California for another $USD1,400 and getting them certified and on the road for $USD4,000 all-up. Best of all, there's a 4WD version of every Kei truck on the market. Subaru, Suzuki, Honda and others build Kei trucks, which have small displacement engines to meet beneficial Japanese road tax categories. There's a lot of clever engineering in these tiny packages. Subaru's Sambar, for example, has its engine at the rear and there's a large access hatch built into the cargo space for…

Tough enough. This 1971 Toyota 40 Series has been reborn thanks to restoration specialists Legacy Overland. In a truly no-expenses-barred, groundup restoration, the FJ40, originally from Texas, takes on a new role as a champion of brawn, beauty and iconic cool. The 40 is beloved around the world, and was a keen rival for Land Rovers here in New Zealand. Back in the day, its standard six-cylinder engine and three speed floor shift was enough to see off its British rival. These days? Everyone wants a big V8 under the bonnet when they start a resto-mod project. A fuel-injected Chevy small block ZZ6 350 cubic inch crate engine making 313kW (420bhp) at 5,800rpm is enough without being outrageous, especially when the engine makes 553Nm of torque. Mated to a rebuilt…

4WD SUSPENSION If there's one area where 4WD owners can make a massive, immediate change to their vehicle, it's under the guards. Ute, pickup or SUV, the components are the same. Change or refurbish springs, shock absorbers and anti-roll bar bushes and transform the handling and braking in the vehicle. The best thing is: this stuff is simple enough that any spanner-handy 4WDer can do it as a Saturday morning project, especially if a couple of mates pitch in. Springs get tired. Leaf springs can be replaced and even upgraded; coil springs can be re-tensioned or replaced; torsion bars can be removed and replaced. There are less and less specialist shops doing spring work these days, so in many cases it's a case of replacing tired units. Sometimes it's obvious:…

For off road enthusiasts and everyday 4WD users, suspension upgrades are a critical aspect of vehicle performance and safety. Original equipment suspensions, while adequate for general use, can fall short when faced with demanding terrains or heavy loads. Upgrading the suspension not only enhances a vehicle's handling and stability but also provides a smoother ride, better load-carrying capacity, and increased off road capability. These improvements can transform the driving experience, making every journey safer, more comfortable, and more enjoyable. ARB's Old Man Emu suspension Old Man Emu (OME) carries the same uncompromising standards as ARB when it comes to the quality and ingenuity of the products presented in the suspension range. ARB's team of experts is an inhouse group of industry-leading engineers specialising in suspension that delivers customers a balance…

4WD Sport After last year's washout during the Anniversary weekend floods the Central Zone Club Truck Challenge returned to Sue Butcher's farm for the Wairarapa Club's round. The organisers called the speed sections ‘timed sections’, saying Tthey are timed, but too much speed can get you into trouble”. They managed to cram four timed sections into the day which played into the hands of Chris Mason. He won the day overall in his unmodified Class 1 Suzuki with his usual mastery of the speed section. It was decided to start the day with side by side drags to get the adrenalin flowing. Trucks were flying into the air off the start with Mikey Ward crashing within eight metres of the start and damaging his Suzuki's suspension. Alex Robertson waited until…

NEWS It's a slightly urban hybrid ute, the first non-EV from Chinese automaker BYD. The Shark, what will be New Zealand's first plug-in hybrid ute, was revealed at the big Fieldays agricultural show in the Waikato. BYD New Zealand is bullish about its prospects up against the established market leaders. Brand manager Warren Willmot says boldly that “Utes are not dead, but the way they have previously been powered is.” The Shark uses a 1.5-litre turbocharged petrol engine making 170kW and 310Nm. It is paired with two electric motors, one for each axle. Combined, BYD claims an output of more than 316kW and a 0-100km/h time of 5.7 seconds in hybrid mode. The PHEV can self-charge or be plugged in and, with an 18.3kWh Blade battery pack, the EV range…

NEWS It's a mixed breed. Blackbridge Motors in America has produced its latest bespoke creation: the Defender 110 Mark IV, complete with custom-modified Jeep Wrangler underpinnings, a Chev LS3 V8 engine and an array of modern performance upgrades. Scott Gilbert founded Blackbridge Motors with the core belief that owning and driving an iconic Land Rover Defender shouldn't come with compromises to comfort or handling. Drawing from years of professional expertise in repairing and restoring Defenders, Gilbert crafted standardised parts and solutions that can easily be switched out and modified depending on a client's needs and preferences. “The most common question we get from potential clients is what makes us different from the plethora of other Land Rover outfits currently on the market. What I always tell them is that while…

This is the new Land Rover Defender Octa. It's an SUV as quick as a Ferrari F50. Thanks to a V8 engine that first appeared in the BMW M5, it'll do 0-100km/h in 3.8 seconds. Even better, there are indications that Octa may even be seen on New Zealand roads. That engine is also used in the new Range Rover Sport SV. It's a 4.4-litre twin-turbo mild hybrid V8 that produces 467kW (626bhp) and 750Nm (553lb-ft) of torque at 5,800rpm. The Octa also gets an eight-speed auto gearbox, bigger Brembo front brake discs and the fastest steering ratio of any Defender ever. It'll wade through one metre of water – more than any other production Defender – and gets a new Octa drive mode that acts like a Baja mode…

AUGUST Off Road Racing National Championship Round 5 hosted by Otago Offroad Racing Club. Date and venue to be confirmed. www.oranz.co.nz 23-25 AUGUST New Zealand Fishing Hunting & 4x4 Expo Energy Events Centre Rotorua. From hunting equipment, apparel, fishing gear, scopes, night vision to 4WD vehicles and modifications, the expo has it all. Explore live demonstrations, informative workshops, and plenty of activities for the whole family. Admission is just $5 online, with a $10 family pass and free admission for children under 16. www.wildnzexpo.co.nz 7-8 SEPTEMBER 4x4 Outdoor Expo; Wolfbrook Arena, Christchurch. 4x4 vendors, Show & Shine, Camping, Swap meet. The full information pack for Christchurch will be out soon, we have some amazing sponsors and vendors on board. Details www.4x4outdoorexpo.co.nz or email info@4x4outdoorexpo.co.nz Phone 021 268 2070 7 SEPTEMBER…

This is not our usual stuff. For starters, although it is an SUV, it's distinctly urban. The first full-electric SUV tested by NZ4WD is an unusual experience. It's very much the slick urban SUV, with street tyres and a huge array of tricky tech, much of which is more useful in the Auckland CBD than in the mud and rocks of the wild places we know and love. It has a stunning interior, with its own light-based ‘effects’ on start-up and a beautiful curved infoscreen across half of the uncluttered dash. None of which has much to do with traditional offroad prowess. And yet, this vehicle is most likely a clear snapshot of the future of 4WDs. NZ4WD got in early: the EVX we picked up had just 80km on…

The team at Ironman 4X4 are well qualified to provide the best advice when choosing suspension components to upgrade a vehicle. They have earned the title of “suspension specialists” with more than 50 years of experience in building suspension components for the Australasian market. Suspension Suspension is not something people often see when they first look at a vehicle. But when it's needed, suspension is a critical upgrade, the single most important change made to a vehicle. Original Equipment suspension is set up to support vehicles for on-road conditions with a reasonable amount of weight. When owners start to add vehicle accessories, attach a trailer or caravan, and increase payload, the way the suspension handles the load changes. Couple that with uneven surfaces and off-road conditions and the OEM suspension…

In Part One of this article, we travelled from Picton and discovered the Eastern half of the North of the South Island, leaving you at Marahau, the gateway to the Abel Tasman National Park. In part two, we continue into Golden Bay and travel as far as we can drive down the West Coast, exploring plenty of fun things to do on the way. Perhaps surprisingly, and contrary to popular belief, Golden Bay is not called Golden because of the colour of its beaches but rather after the precious metal that was discovered there. It's a special place and very, very laid back. Part of this is due to its relative remoteness and the fact that there is only one road in and out and that's over Takaka Hill, which…

The championship is taking an interesting course, with young Asher Morgan leading outright on 210 points as this column is written. He runs a class five single-seater – none of this big V8 unlimited class stuff, though we should note class one racer Paul Eayrs was next in the queue with 178 points. Jason Midgley in a class three was third on 176. The UTV challenge is misfiring this year. Poor old Carl Ruiterman, the defending champion, is a lowly 17th after overheating issues at the Woodhill 100. He was not even leading UTV S class; that honour fell to JR Rolando Fernandez, and he was only 12th overall. In the U class stakes, Keegan Terrell carried the flag, fifth overall on 142 points. At that point there was only…

TECH TALK Nothing says four-wheeling like a day at the beach. Blue skies, blue sea, salty air and endless expanses of dune and beach. Getting off the tarmac and driving over soft, shiny golden sand can turn a first-time off-road adventure into a life-long passion. It's an intensely liberating experience: no traffic jams, no signals, no pedestrian crossings, no speed traps. Just the freedom to take any route at any speed, not stopping or slowing down for anything. Hmmmm. Off-road driving on beaches or inland areas comes with its own set of dos and don'ts. Safety and protection is paramount; not just of driver and occupants but also the 4WD itself, and most importantly the ever-fragile ecosystem and wildlife. In addition to careful preparation with all the required gear and…